Box dispenser

ABSTRACT

A drywall tape or corner material dispenser that allows dispensing of the material directly from the box it is supplied in. The invention can contain a pair of parallel arms that grip the box and a strap that runs between the ends of the straps to close around the box. The strap can be fabric or other material and can be attached using hook/loop material like VELCRO. A handle on the other end of the arms can be used to grip the device and feed the material. The handle can have spring members top and bottom to further grip the box.

This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/629,022 filed Nov. 18, 2004. Application60/629,022 is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of drywallinstallation and more particularly to a box dispenser that can dispensedrywall tape or corner material directly from the box.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Previous systems have required drywall installers to remove a roll oftape or corner material from the box it comes in. Typically thedrywaller takes the roll from the box and lays it on the floor. Everyvertical or horizontal corner is then measured. Next the drywallermeasures the correct length of taping or corner material while it isstill on the floor. Finally the drywaller cuts the material to lengthand installs it in each corner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drywall tape or corner materialdispensing tool that can include a handle, a pair of parallel extendedarms coupled to the handle at one end and coupled to a strap at anotherend, where the arms and strap are adapted to hold a drywall tape box andwhere the strap closes around the box to hold the box securely betweenthe arms, handle and the strap, and where a portion the strap contains asection of hook or loop material with a mating portion of hook or loopmaterial attached to one of the arms so that the strap can be closedaround the box, and tape can be dispensed directly from the box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventionengaging a box of tape.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Several drawings and illustrations have been provided in order to aid inthe understanding of the present invention. The scope of the presentinvention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a box dispenser that can grasp a box ofdrywall tape or corner material and dispense the material directly outof the box without the necessity of the drywaller having to remove theroll of material from the box.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the presentinvention grasping a box containing a roll of drywall material. The boxholder 3 captures the box 6 by using a pair of optional spring memberstop and bottom. A pair of extended arms 7 extend outward along the sideof the box 6. A strap 2 can be attached or removed from the arms to wraparound the rest of the box. The strap can be fabric and only have aportion of hook and loop material like that sold under the registeredtrademark VELCRO. The entire strap can be VELCRO, or there can be endportions of VELCRO for attachment. The configuration shown in FIG. 3 isa system that is loaded and ready to install paper tape or cornermaterial directly into corners.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. A double-sidedhandle 1 can be used to hold the device and also as a clip to attach thedevice to a worker's belt. The strap 2, with the VELCRO or other meansof attaching can be used to keep the box 6 securely located and snug inthe holder 3 and can be attached to an elongated pair of arms 7. Thearms 7 and strap 2 grip the box 6. The strap 2 can be held in tight by amating piece of loop or hook material 5. While the use of VELCRO is thepreferred method, any attachment method can be used including a clip orlock for the strap.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. The box andtaping material is not shown in this figure. The box holder 3 has bendsthat are mirrored so that the device becomes universal for both rightand left handed users. A main handle 4 can be screwed onto the boxholder 3 on one side. The strap 2 can be easily attached or unattachedfor quick and easy replacement of an empty box of material (new roll).

The handle and arms can be made from metal, plastic or other rigid orsemi-rigid material, and the strap can be made from fabric or webbing orany other type of strap material.

Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented to better aidin understanding the present invention. One skilled in the art willrealize that many changes and variations are possible without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes and variationsis within the scope of the present invention.

1. A drywall tape dispenser that can dispense tape directly from a boxcomprising, in combination: a handle; a pair of parallel extended armscoupled to said handle at one end and coupled to a strap at another end,said arms and strap adapted to hold a drywall tape box, wherein saidstrap closes around said box to hold said box securely between saidarms, said handle and said strap.
 2. The drywall tape dispenser of claim1 wherein a portion said strap contains a section of hook or loopmaterial.
 3. The drywall tape dispenser of claim 2 wherein a matingportion of hook or loop material is attached to one of said arms.
 4. Thedrywall tape dispenser of claim 1 wherein said tape exits said boxthrough a slit made in said box.
 5. The drywall tape dispenser of claim1 wherein said handle contains a top and bottom spring member, saidspring member gripping said box top and bottom.
 6. The drywall tapedispenser of claim 1 wherein said handle and said arms are metal.
 7. Adrywall tape dispenser that can dispense tape directly from a boxcomprising, in combination: a handle; a pair of parallel extended armscoupled to said handle at one end and coupled to a strap at another end,said arms and strap adapted to hold a drywall tape box, wherein saidstrap closes around said box to hold said box securely between saidarms, said handle and said strap; a portion said strap containing asection of hook or loop material and a mating portion of hook or loopmaterial is attached to one of said arms.
 8. The drywall tape dispenserof claim 7 wherein said tape exits said box through a slit made in saidbox.
 9. The drywall tape dispenser of claim 7 wherein said handlecontains a top and bottom spring portion, said spring portions grippingsaid box top and bottom.
 10. A method for dispensing drywall tape orcorner material directly from a box, the method comprising the steps of:cutting a slit in said box and feeding said tape from a roll in the boxout of the slit; placing the box in a tape dispenser device containing ahandle coupled to a pair of extended parallel arms that run along a sideof said box; attaching a strap that is coupled to a distal end of one ofsaid arms around the end of said box to a point on the other of saidarms; dispensing drywall tape from device holding said box directly ontodrywall seams or corners.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said handleincludes a spring member top and bottom to further grip said box top andbottom.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein said arms and handle aremetal.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein said strap is attached to saidarm using a portion of hook and loop material.
 14. The method of claim10 wherein said strap is fabric.